A Fox News report says former Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is leading Republican Michael Whatley by about nine points in North Carolina’s 2026 US Senate race. The result matters because the open seat is a significant potential Democratic gain in a closely watched state, with implications for control of the Senate.

The Carolina Journal poll, conducted by Harper Polling among 600 likely voters on 9–10 November, put Cooper on 47.3% and Whatley on 38.6%, a lead of 8.7 points. Cooper’s advantage was wider than his September lead and similar to his August margin; he also led alternative Republican candidate Don Brown by roughly 10 points.